But he neitherglanced at the district attorney nor
spoke. Clairdined with Benson at the Marseilles on the night he was shot? I trust
you wont ask me for the ladys name.
Well, it looks like weve gothold of something
workable. However, maybe I can cast illumination on thosedisquietin cigarette butts.
I didnt even know hed been shotuntil I read the paper next day. Vances tone
indicated that the matter was of noconsequence. But if you refuse anyinformation you
will find yourself in trouble.
But tell me: did it notshock you to see such a
quiet, sweet-looking young lady smokingcigarettes?
Furthermore, Markham had a finely developedsense of
justice. Do you, by anychance, know Colonel Ostrander?
This Leander, Ifear, would never have swum the
Hellespont for a ladys sake.
In fact, this man threatened Alvins life. Not an
assumption, but a fact, declared Vance. Markham grunted and continued to smoke
abstractedly.
Y know, the naturalisticphilosophy of Descartes has
always rather appealed to me. When you have further need of myservices, you will
find me at the Ansonia.
Furthermore, Markham had a finely developedsense of
justice.
And he recounted briefly the happenings atBensons
house the preceding afternoon.
She sat down on the edge ofit, resting her elbows
on its broad arms. When we were alone, Vance gave Markham a look of
half-banteringadmiration.
I didnt see any cigarettes there this
morning.
Very well,sir; I admit I made the threat. But why,
I wonder, didnt Hagedorn work the thing out, if it wasso simple?
The womans gaze did not falter, but the pupils of
her eyes dilated.
I went, I remember, to one or two of Pfyfes
parties, said themajor. Pfyfeshook his head as if lamenting the incomprehensible
irony of life.
Then, withan air of righteous frankness, he leaned
forward.
Am I suspected of complicity in the
crime?
But in the circumstnces youwill be forgiven. There
was something almost admirable in her obstinacy.